m30 or 2.7i

[Mercury[BKM]]

Currently I have the 1987 325
m30b34 in the garage that ill need to refresh, and need to buy parts and junk for to do the swap.

or i can just go to a salvage yard and pick up stuff for the 2.7i swap and call it a day.

car is gutted as of now, just making a fun street beast, while shopping around for a nice DD (190e)

[Bimmerman325i]

For car stuff, there are three factors to think about.

Cheap.

Fast.

Reliable.

Pick two: You can have cheap and fast, but it won't be reliable. You can have fast and reliable, but it won't be cheap. You can have cheap and reliable, but you already have an m20b27.

Seriously though, I'd save until you have double the budget and buy a turbo kit for the M20.

[Mercury[BKM]]

boosted m20 > other options.

thats typically what i do, stick with the motor i have and upgrade everything else around it. Fast/Reliable has always been kind of the route that i go regardless, money just isnt what it once was (oh man oh man can't say that enough)

may be best to enjoy the chipped eta for a while and then figure it all out while upgrading all the other stuffs?

[quickervicar]

If you have an eta engine, I'm not sure why you'd need different rods. If the bottom end is fine, leave things be down there & focus on the top end. Do an 'i' head/ECU swap and then turbocharge it down the road. I think I have about $400 total into my swap. $100 for good head, $100 for gasket set, $100 for timing belt & water pump goodies, $45 for Metric Blue bolts, $50+ for harness & intake boot.

[acolella76]

If you have an eta engine, I'm not sure why you'd need different rods. If the bottom end is fine, leave things be down there & focus on the top end. Do an 'i' head/ECU swap and then turbocharge it down the road. I think I have about $400 total into my swap. $100 for good head, $100 for gasket set, $100 for timing belt & water pump goodies, $45 for Metric Blue bolts, $50+ for harness & intake boot.

i still don't get why people continue to buy metric blues, it's been proven that stock head bolts are better. Metric blues aren't even head bolts, they're just bolts that happen to fit.

[Mercury[BKM]]

i still don't get why people continue to buy metric blues, it's been proven that stock head bolts are better. Metric blues aren't even head bolts, they're just bolts that happen to fit.

yeah thats kind of what ive read too.

ah well, your ECU should hold me over for a bit i imagine until i do that 2.7i, it may just be the best way to go since i can go through the whole motor anyway and clean it up while head is off

[Mercury[BKM]]

i have a good m30b34 in the garage now, still deciding what to try and do with the car, seems like parts are scarce out here recently :(

[LJ851]

i have a good m30b34 in the garage now, still deciding what to try and do with the car, seems like parts are scarce out here recently :(

Install B34 now, when/if you get bored later add a turbo. Fun now, fun later.

[quickervicar]

i still don't get why people continue to buy metric blues, it's been proven that stock head bolts are better. Metric blues aren't even head bolts, they're just bolts that happen to fit.

There seem to be two camps on this one, and I'm not sure if either has been "proven." The only diffence between a headbolt and bolts that happen to fit is the torque-to-yield factor. The Blues seem to hold just fine for me, plus they can/have been reused. I always prefer ARP head studs for high-boost applications, but this was a budget build with low boost aspirations. (so to speak)

Regardless, I'm going ahead with my M30B35 swap this winter. It should prove to be an entertaining ride when it's all said & done.

[Mercury[BKM]]

the eta driveshaft works as it is doesn't it , so i should be able to skip the need for a driveshaft... unless im totally mistaken?

[Eecen]

You should S62 swap it...fer reals dawg.














This is really a decision you need to make on your own.


Spend some time thinking over the pros and cons, do research, write out parts listsand costs etc....etc

[kronus]

the eta driveshaft works as it is doesn't it , so i should be able to skip the need for a driveshaft... unless im totally mistaken?

If you have a '87 eta, yeah. It has to be the big guibo driveshaft, and depending on the motor mount arms you get, you may have to cut down or remove the driveshaft collar nut.

Do the M30 swap. We did one recently to our lemons car and it's properly fast.

[bimmershark]

i actually have everything right now to do a 2.7 stroker but i am gonna do a m30 swap into my e30 truck project.. and possibly turbo it down the road

[Mercury[BKM]]

i just need to get the rest of the parts for it together... rebuild the engine while its out, paint it all that jazz.

heard great things about the b34 vs the b35 for turbo, so thats exciting. Id really like to get my suspension done, and Mtech II kit with those DTM rivet on flares before i actually start parts searching for it